The Rediscovery of Eleocharis geniculata (L.) Roem. & Schult. (Cyperaceae) in Illinois with Taxonomic Notes
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Significance of the Report.The first collections of Eleocharis geniculata in the state of Illinois since 1894.Previous Knowledge.Eleocharis geniculata (L.) Roem.& Schult., commonly called Capitate Spike-rush (Figure 1), is a small, cespitose annual sedge that grows in brackish wetlands, calcareous swales and lakeshores, and marly fens in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada (Menapace 2003;MICHIGAN FLORA ONLINE 2011;Wilhelm and Rericha 2017).Its distribution in the Great Lakes region which is limited to a few counties near the northern edges of the states Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois and in southern Ontario, is disjunct from its general pantropical and warm-temperate distribution, including a widespread distribution in the southern United States (Menapace 2003; Lunkai and Strong 2010; Kartesz 2015).The plants occurring in the Great Lakes region have darker scales that are purplish, whereas the more tropical and warm-temperate individuals have straw-colored scales (Hill 1881; MICHIGAN FLORA ONLINE 2011).This has led some taxonomists to separate these individuals as a distinct, endemic Great Lakes species described as Eleocharis dispar E.J. Hill, or as a variety Eleocharis geniculata (L.) Roem.& Schult, var.dispar (E.J. Hill) Blake (Hill 1881; Hermann 1935).One suggested common name of the Great Lakes taxon is Inland Capitate Spike-rush.The name Eleocharis caribaea (Rottb.)Blake has been applied to this species (e.g., Gleason and Cronquist 1991;Voss 1972); however, Wilson (1990) showed that the earlier name, Scirpus geniculatus L., applies to the same species and therefore the specific epithet geniculata has priority.The taxonomy of the Eleocharis geniculata complex remains complicated.The recent resurrection of Eleocharis microformis (O'Kennon and Taylor 2013)
Source: The Great Lakes Botanist
DOI: 10.3998/glbot.7050
Authors: Nathanael J. Pilla, Alison Anastasio
Institution: University of Chicago
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4404676059